Wiess Ratings released the May 2018 edition of its comprehensive ratings of cryptocurrencies last week. The document is basically a list of cryptocurrencies examined based on certain considerations and graded using it’s A-E system.

In this latest ratings, the US independent rating agency examined and rated 93 cryptocurrencies including the biggest by market cap; bitcoin, ethereum, and litecoin. No cryptocurrency made it to Weiss A grade (that is, A+, A or A-). This was not a surprise for followers given the state of cryptocurrency markets in the month being reviewed. Top writer for the rating agency had predicted a downward trend that will culminate in an 80-day cycle low in early June before a major rise in the second half of the year.

Cardano (ADA), Decred (DCR), and EOS were the highest rated coins; all three rated B. Bitcoin and Ether were among the 11 coins that were rated B- bringing the total coins in the B category to 14 out of 93 rated. Coins rated B- included, BTC, ETH, BTS, IOTA, ONT, NEO, XRP, STEEM, TRX, XLM, and ZIL while no coin was rated B+.

The majority of the coins were rated in the C category; a total of 54 cryptocurrencies were ranked either C+, C, or C-. Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Litecoin (LTC), Moreno (XMR) were in this category including others like DASH, DOGE, ETC, LSK, LTC, XEM, QTUM, SC, STRAT, UBQ, VEN, WAVES, and ZEC.

Weiss ratings introduced its first cryptocurrency ratings in January; it claims to be the first Financial Rating Institution to provide ratings for cryptocurrencies. In the maiden edition, the agency ranked bitcoin at C+ but has now upgraded it to a B-.

How Weiss Cryptocurrency Ratings Are Obtained

According to information on its website, Weiss ratings “are based on a groundbreaking model that analyzes thousands of data points on each coin’s trading patterns, technology, and usage.” The agency draws upon decades of experience rating up to 55,000 institutions, stocks, mutual funds, ETFs, and recently cryptocurrencies.

Major criteria for rating include security, investment risk and reward, technology and adoption, governance, and privacy. Bitcoin, for instance, scored high for its widespread adoption and security. For interpretations, A, B, C, D, E represent Excellent, Good, Fair, Weak and Very weak. Coins rated A and B are commendable for investors while rating D and below are bleak interments. A ‘C’ is a passing grade with an F grade is given to coins that have failed o facing credible fraud charges.

Salomon Sunny is the market reporter for Smartereum, one of the global leaders in Ethereum, blockchain and currency news. He produces technical price updates on digital currencies and writes recent developments about blockchain.